JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Johnny B from Howey In The Hills
Dr. O: Can't wait until Sunday. What's your take on Arik Armstead? He has been out of any preseason games and not sure of his physical status. Is he ready to play or will Coach P rotate him in to get game legs under him? Your thoughts?
I think Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead is a 10-year NFL veteran who doesn't need extensive preseason snaps to be ready for the regular season. I expect he will rotate Sunday more because Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen plans to rotate defensive lineman extensively than any aftereffects of the knee injury that kept him on the physically unable to perform list much of the 2024 Preseason.
Johnny the sharpener - files are steel
What are you watching for in Week One? O-line play? Or maybe there's something more subtle (or overt) I can look for? I mean, besides the obvious (sacks, turnovers, etc.)
Offensive line play. Defensive line play. Short-yardage running offense. Improvement from quarterback Trevor Lawrence in terms of reducing turnovers and showing command of the offense. I don't know if those are obvious. I don't know if the Jaguars will win or lose Sunday. I know if those areas are strong Sunday I feel good about the Jaguars' chances to be good in 2024.
David from Oviedo, FL
Zone - Last year, Parker Washington contributed only 16 catches for 132 yards with two touchdowns. What kind of production do you expect from him as a receiver this year?
I don't know how to project statistics. I do know how to project impact, and I think Jaguars second-year receiver Parker Washington – if healthy – will play a legitimate role in the offense and contribute significantly.
Pete from Daytona Beach, FL
Zone, just a quick question not related to football. Is Deane from Daytona actually JT from Palm Coast? Was JT kicked out of the zone for some reason?
I once had my suspicions Deane from Daytona actually was longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist, Northeast Florida sports columnist and renowned international envoy Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette incognito. This was until I realized that Gene needs answers from no man, particularly a common man such as myself. Also: No one ever has been kicked out of the O-Zone, perhaps because no one really cares all that much about getting in.
Bryan from Rip City
I'm starting to think Doug Pederson went to Round Rock this summer and pulled the plug on the air conditioner and maybe kicked a dog or three while he was at it. Were Indy fans irrationally anti-Dungy during your tenure? Or just rationally so?
Yes, there were fans who criticized Tony Dungy as the Indianapolis Colts' head coach. There were also fans who criticized quarterback Peyton Manning. Yes, both are Pro Football Hall of Famers. Guess what? If the Jaguars win the Super Bowl and run for 30 yards, there will be fans who criticize the running game. Or the play-calling. Why? Because fans fan. It's what they do.
JP from Phoenix
Can we get a big spinning wheel that Coach Doug Pederson can spin for who will call the next play?
Sure.
Blaine from Prescott, Az
Dear Mr. O. In looking at the whole of the AFC, I am not certain a record of 10 and 7 wins a playoff spot, even a Wild Card. Your thoughts?
The last time a 10-victory team missed the playoffs was in 2020, when the Miami Dolphins missed them at 10-6. That was the first season with seven postseason teams from each conference. Considering the 17-game schedule and so many postseason teams, I expect it will be very rare for a 10-victory team not to make it. I expect 10 victories will get you in this season.
Derek from Brookings, SD
I'm eager to see how the defense, and specifically the defensive front, play this season. I may be a bit old school, but I like when a really good defense has the ability to slow down and limit high powered offenses in a league that does a lot to help offenses more than defenses. You got to see a couple really good defensive ends play in Indianapolis at the same time, how do you feel Hines-Allen and Walker compare to them?
I think the Jaguars' defense has a chance to be good this season, and I think the key players on the front – defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Armstead and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton – are big reasons. That foursome should be able to disrupt most offensive fronts. That's the element that can make this defense special. If they're special as a group, the defense will be good. Maybe very good. If they're not, then I'm not sure the defense will be good. As for how Hines-Allen and Walker compare to Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis … Freeney is a Hall of Fame defensive end and Mathis at his highest level was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Hines-Allen has the ability to be very good. Walker has the potential to be the best run defender of the group. Both players need four or five good seasons to compare with Freeney and Mathis.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
Having been KOAF'd into loosening my grip on the play-calling issue, listening to questions at a press conference of his a day or so later from those who have not ... I thought to myself that I honestly wouldn't care if he didn't tell them. My next thought was how impossible it would have to be to keep it under wraps for very long. Ironically, he and I evidently had the same notion. Whether he's serious or not about not saying, I like he seems loose about it. Gives the impression he's not too worried about the outcome of what he had, I'm sure, already decided on that front. Was just curious with what you know about the lead up to and on game day communications - I would imagine there are a pretty large amount of potential "leakers" that would be in position to know and tell - who would your bet be on that attempting to conceal such information would never make it past.
I think this "issue" has been so overthought, overanalyzed and over-discussed that all perspective on it has been lost. Except, perhaps, in the case of Pederson. He seems to realize what many fail to comprehend/accept – that he and offensive coordinator Press Taylor are of like enough mind and approach that the difference between their playcalling is negligible. Remember: Taylor and Pederson shared play-calling duties in 2022 and few outside the organization knew – or cared – until Pederson said so publicly at the start of the 2023 season.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
I am so unbelievably sick of the Chiefs. I guess the fatigue set in after our brutal loss. Similar to the New England Patriots fatigue and hatred I had for so long. What I would do to be that team… please Trevor. Work miracles this season. I can't take them anymore.
Josh is sick and a little mad online.
Steve from Hilton head, SC
John, Why do defensive linemen rotate in and out more frequently than the offensive line? Does it take more energy to hit, react and chase as opposed to a more confined explosive push, or pass blocking? Hence more defensive line and linebacker on the roster versus offensive line.
Yes, it takes more energy to rush the passer than to protect the passer. Offensive line play also depends on continuity and cohesion more than defensive line play. These are both reasons teams rotate the defensive front and not the offensive front.
Nick from Palm Coast, FL
Did the Jags cancel or change the Happy Hour lineup? It used to be Pete, Tony and J.P. Now it's J.P. with Jeff. Please bring back Tony and Pete thanks.
Pete Prisco, Tony Boselli and J.P. Shadrick are on Jaguars Happy Hour on Mondays, just like they were last season and the season before that and the season before that and so on. Shadrick and Jeff Lageman are on Happy Hour on Thursdays, just like they were last season and the season before that and the season before that and so on.
David from Orlando, FL
O - I think the Jaguars have high-quality backup cornerbacks in Montaric Brown and Jarrian Jones. I've heard Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen say that he likes rotating defensive linemen during the game to keep them fresh. Does rotating of players apply to the secondary or is that a different beast? Do you think Brown and Jones will see significant playing time?
It's usually a different beast. I don't expect the Jaguars to rotate corners extensively, but Nielsen has been intentionally vague about how he plans to use defensive personnel. Tune in Sunday.
Jim from Middleburg
Johnny. Pop the Corn and open a beer. Jaguar Football is already here!! Good Luck Jags Fans!!!
You go, girl.
